elise.writer

You do not have to sacrifice your soul for those you should love.
You do not have to hail every stranger to encounter.
You do not have to ignore the harshest of wind and pretend you are okay.

Last year, I had likely the most amazing experience of my life at a teen Rite of Passage retreat, Adventure Game Theatre. I felt like I could finally be myself and be happy in this amazing community, the best I've ever found.

Your heart knows the way home,
Your heart knows the way home.

Like a single white feather with splotches of dark
Worthy of noticing its enchantment yet frayed,
Like the wings of a fragile butterfly on the road

If these words inspire
no loves
no reads
no "wins"
no nothing                then that's okay.

If she and he and they said
this or that about
that and this and

I suppose I live with my family
My mother and my father
And there are wonderful
But family is not just your
Ancestors and descendants
Family is those you love
And would do anything for
And experience joy